It wasn’t that long ago that Joe Torre was managing the New York Yankees. For instance, Houston Astros pitcher Justin Verlander pitched against his final Yankees teams, Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw played for him from 2008-10, and so on.
However, in some respects, Torre’s reign as New York skipper from 1996-2007 might as well belong to another epoch. When he managed the Yankees, they were the most feared and glamorous franchise in North American professional sports. Austerity and losing were not in their vocabulary; four World Series titles and six pennants were.
On Monday, Torre unexpectedly took the field to make a pitching change for New York during its 4-3 exhibition win over the Philadelphia Phillies at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa. Yankees fans were surprised and excited to see their old boss.
Just like old times.@JoeTorre 🫡 pic.twitter.com/q3rIl8CoZ9
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) March 18, 2024
Longtime New York announcer Michael Kay called the moment “pretty darn cool.”
Blast from the past. Pretty darn cool. https://t.co/daaj90n2c7
— Michael Kay (@RealMichaelKay) March 18, 2024
Another Yankees media mainstay, Ryan Ruocco, called it “awesome.”
So awesome https://t.co/nPvrPUntCB
— Ryan Ruocco (@RyanRuocco) March 18, 2024
Even New York fans suspicious of nostalgia approved of the moment.
Our fanbase is so insanely nostalgia-riddled for the “good old days”
— Srechter (@Srechter7) March 18, 2024
And, yeah, count me among them, because this was undeniably cool to see lol https://t.co/gmiZZW40oE
Some Yankees backers suggested the franchise could stand to get more in touch with its storied history.
Yankees need more ritual displays of elitism like this #SteinbrennerWay https://t.co/HlrXEFSpEq
— Brendan McGovern (@nbadrafter) March 18, 2024
After his awkward exit in ’07, it seems safe to say Torre’s political rehabilitation is complete.
I don't think Yankee fans properly appreciated Torre till he was gone. And I mean some of the young players can one day say they shared a mound with a HOF manager with his number retired. Quite a feeling. https://t.co/0lsEz4TRl8
— JB (@JB_III) March 18, 2024
